Choked dielectric loaded tip dipole microwave antenna

ABSTRACT

A microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween and a radiating section coupled to the feedline, the radiating section including a dipole antenna and a tubular dielectric loading disposed about the dipole antenna.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to microwave applicators used in tissue ablation procedures. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a microwave applicator having either a liquid or solid loaded tip dipole antenna.

2. Background of Related Art

Treatment of certain diseases requires destruction of malignant tissue growths (e.g., tumors). It is known that tumor cells denature at elevated temperatures that are slightly lower than temperatures injurious to surrounding healthy cells. Therefore, known treatment methods, such as hyperthermia therapy, heat tumor cells to temperatures above 41° C., while maintaining adjacent healthy cells at lower temperatures to avoid irreversible cell damage. Such methods involve applying electromagnetic radiation to heat tissue and include ablation and coagulation of tissue. In particular, microwave energy is used to coagulate and/or ablate tissue to denature or kill the cancerous cells.

Microwave energy is applied via microwave ablation antennas that penetrate tissue to reach tumors. There are several types of microwave antennas, such as monopole and dipole. In monopole and dipole antennas, microwave energy radiates perpendicularly from the axis of the conductor. A monopole antenna includes a single, elongated microwave conductor. Dipole antennas may have a coaxial construction including an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by a dielectric portion. More specifically, dipole microwave antennas may have a long, thin inner conductor that extends along a longitudinal axis of the antenna and is surrounded by an outer conductor. In certain variations, a portion or portions of the outer conductor may be selectively removed to provide for more effective outward radiation of energy. This type of microwave antenna construction is typically referred to as a “leaky waveguide” or “leaky coaxial” antenna.

Conventional microwave antennas have a narrow operational bandwidth, a wavelength range at which optimal operational efficiency is achieved, and hence, are incapable of maintaining a predetermined impedance match between the microwave delivery system (e.g., generator, cable, etc.) and the tissue surrounding the microwave antenna. More specifically, as microwave energy is applied to tissue, the dielectric constant of the tissue immediately surrounding the microwave antenna decreases as the tissue is cooked. The drop causes the wavelength of the microwave energy being applied to tissue to increase beyond the bandwidth of the antenna. As a result, there is a mismatch between the bandwidth of conventional microwave antenna and the microwave energy being applied. Thus, narrow band microwave antennas may detune hindering effective energy delivery and dispersion.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween and a radiating section coupled to the feedline, the radiating section including a dipole antenna and a tubular dielectric loading disposed about the dipole antenna.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween and a radiating section coupled to the feedline. The radiating section includes a dipole antenna and a dielectric medium, the dielectric medium including a plurality of constituent dielectric materials of varying dielectric permittivity values, which increase radially from the radiating section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a microwave ablation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a microwave antenna assembly according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a distal portion of a feedline of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a balanced dipole antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an unbalanced dipole antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the unbalanced dipole antenna of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a distal end of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a radiating section of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a tip and a sheath of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a side view of is proximal end of the feedline of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the connection hub and a proximal end of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of inflow tubes of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a microwave antenna assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective cross-sectional views of the microwave antenna of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional, enlarged perspective view of the microwave antenna of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a microwave ablation system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a microwave antenna assembly according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 20; and

FIG. 23 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the microwave antenna assembly of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 shows a microwave ablation system 10 that includes a microwave antenna assembly 12 coupled to a microwave generator 14 via a flexible coaxial cable 16. The generator 14 is configured to provide microwave energy at an operational frequency from about 500 MHz to about 10,000 MHz.

The antenna assembly 12 is generally comprised of radiating section 18 connected by a feedline 20 (or shaft) to the cable 16. More specifically, the antenna assembly 12 is coupled to the cable 16 through a connection hub 22. The connection hub 22 includes an outlet fluid port 30 and an inlet fluid port 32 that are connected in fluid communication with a sheath 38. The sheath 38 encloses the radiating section 18 and the feedline 20 allowing for coolant fluid from the ports 30 and 32 to be supplied and circulated around the antenna assembly 12. The ports 30 and 32 are also coupled to a supply pump 34 that is, in turn, coupled to a supply tank 36. The supply tank 36 stores the coolant fluid and maintains the fluid at a predetermined temperature. In one embodiment, the supply tank 36 may include a coolant unit which cools the returning liquid from the antenna assembly 12. In another embodiment, the coolant fluid may be a gas and/or a mixture of fluid and gas.

Assembly 12 also includes a tip 48 having a tapered end 24 that terminates, in one embodiment, at a pointed end 26 to allow for insertion into tissue with minimal resistance at a distal end of the radiating section 18. In those cases where the radiating section 18 is inserted into a pre-existing opening, tip 48 may be rounded or flat.

FIG. 2 illustrates the radiating section 18 of the antenna assembly 12 having an unbalanced dipole antenna 40. The dipole antenna 40 is coupled to the feedline 20 that electrically connects antenna assembly 12 to the generator 14. As shown in FIG. 3-4, the feedline 20 includes an inner conductor 50 (e.g., wire) surrounded by an inner insulator 52, which is then surrounded by an outer conductor 56 (e.g., cylindrical conducting sheath). The inner and outer conductors may be constructed of copper, gold, stainless steel or other conductive metals with similar conductivity values. The metals may be plated with other materials, e.g., other conductive materials, to improve their properties, e.g., to improve conductivity or decrease energy loss, etc. In one embodiment, the feedline 20 may be formed from a coaxial semi-rigid or flexible cable having a wire with a 0.047″ outer diameter rated for 50 Ohms.

The dipole antenna 40 includes a proximal portion 42 and a distal portion 44 interconnected by a dielectric spacer at a feed point 46. The distal portion 44 and the proximal portion 42 are of different, unequal lengths so that the dipole antenna 40 is unbalanced. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the distal portion 44 may be longer than the proximal portion 42. The proximal portion 42 is formed from the inner conductor 50 and the inner insulator 52 which are extended outside the outer conductor 56, as shown best in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, in which the feedline 20 is formed from a coaxial cable, the outer conductor 56 and the inner insulator 52 may be relieved relative to the inner conductor 50 to reveal the same, as shown in FIG. 5.

The distal portion 44 includes a conductive member 45 that may be formed from any type of conductive material, such as metals (e.g., copper, stainless steel, tin, and various alloys thereof). The distal portion 44 may have a solid structure and may be formed from solid wire (e.g., 10 AWG). In another embodiment, the distal portion 44 may be formed from a hollow sleeve of an outer conductor of coaxial cable or another cylindrical conductor. The cylindrical conductor may then be filled with solder to convert the cylinder into a solid shaft. More specifically, the solder may be heated to a temperature sufficient to liquefy the solder within the cylindrical conductor (e.g., 500° F.) thereby creating a solid shaft.

In another embodiment, the distal portion 44 may also be formed from solid wire or a cylindrical conductor filled with solder. The distal portion 44 is thereafter coupled to the inner conductor 50, as shown in FIG. 4. This may be accomplished by soldering the distal portion 44 to the distal end of the inner conductor 50, such as by melting the solder of the distal portion 44 and inserting the inner conductor 50 therein.

In some embodiments, the unbalanced dipole antenna 40 provides for better impedance matching during ablation. Variation in tissue properties during ablation complicates real part impedance matching of microwave ablation antennas. Over the course of an ablation, a given position on the dipole varies in real impedance due to the resulting dynamic current and voltage relationship. FIG. 6 shows the difficulty in matching real part impedance using a half-wave dipole antenna which includes two portions of equal lengths, at the center of the dipole the voltage is minimized and the current is maximized. However, the real part impedance is minimized and is maximized at the ends of the proximal and distal portions 42 and 44. In contrast, the unbalanced dipole antenna 40 of the present disclosure minimizes the integration over ablation time of the difference between the feed point real part impedance and the impedance of the cable 16. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the unbalanced half-wave dipole provides a better match of initial impedance to real part impedance by placing the gap between the proximal and distal portions 42 and 44 away from the center of the dipole antenna 40. In one embodiment, the length of the distal portion 40 is about 20 mm to minimize return loss of the assembly 12.

FIG. 8 illustrates the distal portion 44 attached to the proximal portion 42. The distal portion 44 may be soldered to the inner conductor 50 of the proximal portion 42 to establish electromechanical contact therebetween. In one embodiment, where the distal portion 44 is formed from a hollow cylindrical conductor filled with a solder material, the distal portion 44 may be attached to the proximal portion 42 by liquefying the solder of the distal portion 44 and inserting the distal end of the inner conductor 50 therein. A portion of the distal end of the inner conductor 50 is inserted into the distal portion 44 such that a dipole feed gap “G” remains between the proximal and distal portions 42 and 44 at the feed point 46. The gap “G” may be from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. The dipole feed gap “G” of the antenna is the first structure the coaxial field mode encounters upon transfer to free space. The gap therefore plays an important role in the return loss, or system-to-antenna impedance match. In one embodiment, the gap “G” is thereafter filled with a dielectric material to form the dielectric spacer at the feed point 46. In another embodiment, the inner insulator 52 is extended into the feed point 46. The dielectric material may be polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), such as Teflon® sold by DuPont of Willmington, Del. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the gap “C” may be coated via a dielectric seal coating as discussed in more detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the distal portion 44 is coupled to the tip 48, which may be formed from a variety of heat-resistant materials suitable for penetrating tissue, such as metals (e.g., stainless steel) and various thermoplastic materials, such as polyetherimide, polyamide thermoplastic resins, an example of which is Ultem® sold by General Electric Co. of Fairfield, Conn. The tip 48 may be machined from various stock rods to obtain a desired shape. The tip 48 may be attached to the distal portion 44 using various adhesives, such as epoxy seal 49. If the tip 48 is metal, the tip 48 may be soldered to the distal portion 44.

FIG. 11 illustrates various shapes and forms of the tip 48, namely a stainless steel tip 48 a and a dielectric tip 48 b. Both tips 48 a and 48 b includes an insertion base 51 having an external diameter that is smaller than diameter of the tips 48 a and 49 allowing for easier insertion into the sheath 38. This configuration also provides for a better seal between the tip 48 and the sheath 38 as discussed in more detail below.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the antenna assembly 12 also includes a choke 60. The choke 60 is disposed around the feedline 20 and includes an inner dielectric layer 62 and an outer conductive layer 64. In one embodiment, the choke 60 is a proximally positioned quarter-wave length shorted choke. The choke 60 is implemented as a quarter-wave length shorted by using the outer conductive layer 64 around the outer conductor 56 of the feedline 20 separated by the dielectric layer. The choke 60 is shorted to the outer conductor 56 of the feedline 20 at the proximal end of the choke 60 by soldering or other means. In one embodiment, the dielectric layer 32 is formed from a fluoropolymer, such as tetrafluorethylene, perfluorpropylene, and the like, and has a thickness of about 0.005 inches. The outer conductive layer 34 may be formed from a so-called “perfect conductor” material, such as a highly conductive metal (e.g., copper).

In embodiments, the choke 60 may be a quarter-wavelength shorted choke, a half-wavelength open choke, and inverted quarter-wavelength shorted choke or a gap cancellation choke. The choke 60 confines the microwave energy from the generator 14 to the radiating section 20 of the assembly 12, thereby limiting the microwave energy deposition zone length along the feedline 20. The choke 28 provides high impedance to microwave energy conducted down the outside of the feedline 20, thereby limiting energy deposition to the end of the antenna.

A shorted quarter-wave choke placed at the high impedance point of the proximal portion 42 on the antenna assembly 12 confines antenna currents to the radiating section 18 of the assembly 12, reducing the length and maximizing the cross-sectional diameter of ablations due to nearly spherical power dissipation zones.

The dielectric of dielectric layer 62 extends past the choke conductor layer 64 toward the distal end of the assembly 12, as shown in FIG. 10. In one embodiment, the dielectric layer 62 may extend past the choke conductor layer 64 by about 6 mm. This extended dielectric improves the performance of the choke 60 by placing a capacitance between the proximal portion 42 of the dipole and the outer surface of the choke conductor layer 64 thereby blocking currents from jumping onto the choke conductor layer 64. The capacitance formed by the dielectric is an impedance barrier to microwave currents which would otherwise jump from the proximal portion 42 to the outer surface of the choke 60 near the entrance thereof avoiding the choke structure completely. Instead, these currents are directed into the quarter-wave choke 60 by the extended dielectric, improving its effectiveness.

As discussed above, the wavelength increase due to tissue desiccation causes the high impedance point on the proximal portion 42 to move proximally along the assembly 12. An effective choke must present high impedance at this variable point. The extended dielectric effectively acts as a variable position choke, covering the range over which this point shifts, maintaining choke effectiveness as long as the high impedance point of the proximal portion 42 stays within the extended dielectric boundaries. The dielectric layer 62 may be extended to any length between the choke conductive layer 64 and the feed point 46.

In one embodiment, the dielectric layer 62 may be formed by applying a dielectric shrink material, such as 5/64″ thick PTFE shrink wrap to the outer conductor 56. Once the shrink wrap material is placed around the outer conductor 56, the material is heated so that the material melts and sets about the outer conductor 56, The heating may be accomplished by hot air blowers, which can provide a hot air stream of about 750° F., Multiple layers of the PTFE shrink wrap may be applied and consecutively heated to form the dielectric layer 62 of desired thickness. In one embodiment, three or more layers of the PTFE shrink wrap are applied. The shrink material may also be applied over the choke conductive layer 64 to enclose the choke conductive layer 64.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the conductor layer 64 may be formed by applying one or more layers of a conductive metal foil (e.g., copper) onto the dielectric layer 62. The foil may extend past the proximal end of the dielectric layer 62 as shown in FIG. 12. The foil may be attached to the dielectric layer 62 using various types of adhesives (e.g., ultraviolet light activated glue, epoxy, etc.). In one embodiment, the proximal end of the foil which extends past the dielectric layer 62 may be attached to the feedline 20 by means of a so-called “wire-wrap” technique to provide a good electrical connection to the foil and the feedline 20 as shown in FIG. 12. The wire is wrapped around the copper foil at the point where the foil begins to taper down past the dielectric layer 62. After the wire is wrapped, the wire is soldered to itself all along the length of the wrap to secure the wire and prevent the wire from unwrapping. In another embodiment, other methods may be used to secure the foil to the feedline 20, e.g., a hollow cylinder may be placed around the excess foil necking past the dielectric layer 62. In a further embodiment, the foil may be substantially the same length as the dielectric layer 62 to obviate the need for securing the proximal end of the foil to the feedline 20.

The assembly 12 also includes the connection hub 22, as shown in more detail in FIG. 13. The connection hub 22 includes a cable connector 79 and fluid ports 30 and 32. The connection hub 22 may include a three-branch luer type connector 72, with a middle finger 74 being used to house the cable connector 70 and the left and right fingers 76 and 78 to house the outlet and inlet fluid ports 30 and 32, respectively. The connection hub 22 also includes a base 81 disposed at a distal end of the middle finger 74.

The assembly 12 also includes an active coolant system as shown in FIGS. 1, 13 and 14. More specifically, the assembly 12 includes sheath 38 that encloses the feedline 20, the radiating section 18 from the tip 48 to the base 81. The coolant is supplied by the pump 34 and is circulated in the space between the radiating section 18, the feedline 20 and the sheath 38. Since the radiating section 18 and the feedline 20 are in direct contact with the coolant fluid these components of the assembly 12 are sealed to prevent the ingress or egress of fluids. This may be accomplished by applying any type of melt-processable polymers using conventional injection molding and screw extrusion techniques. In one embodiment, a sleeve 63 of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) shrink wrap may be applied to the entire assembly 12, namely the feedline 20 and the radiating section 18, as shown in FIG. 1. The sleeve 63 is then heated to seal the choke 60, the feedline 20 and radiating section 18. The resulting FEP seal prevents coolant fluid from penetrating into the assembly 12. The sleeve may be applied after applying the outer conductive layer 64. In addition, FEP may also be applied at the point where the inner conductor 50 and the inner insulator 52 are extended past the outer conductor 56, thereby creating an air space 53 as shown in FIG. 4.

The sheath 38 may be any type of rigid tube, such as a catheter manufactured from polyimide and other types of polymers. The sheath 38 may be assembled by initially securing the tip 48 to the distal end of the sheath 38 and then inserting the combined sheath and tip assembly onto the assembly 12. The sheath 38 is also secured to the base 81 of the connection hub 22 and the tip 48 such that the sheath 38 is in fluid communication with the connection hub 22 and defines a chamber 89 between the base 81 and the tip 48.

The inflow tube 86 may include one or more inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b. The inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b may be any type of flexible tube having an external diameter sufficient to fit inside the chamber 89 (FIGS. 4 and 9) between the feedline 20 and the sheath 38. The inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b are inserted through the outlet fluid port 30. More specifically, the inflow tube 86 a is inserted almost to the distal end of the distal portion 44 and the inflow tube 86 b is inserted approximately to the feed point 46 as shown in FIG. 14. The inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b are then secured to the radiating section 18 (e.g., using epoxy, glue, etc.). The inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b are positioned in this configuration to provide for optimal coolant flow through the sheath 38. The fluid flow from the inflow tube 86 a is ejected into the tip 48 and is reflected in the proximal direction. The fluid flow from the inflow tube 86 b provides for the coolant along the radiating section 18. During operation, the pump 34 supplies fluid to the assembly 12 through the inflow tubes 86 a and 86 b, thereby circulating the coolant through the entire length of the assembly 12 including the connection hub 22. The fluid is then withdrawn from the middle finger 74 and the left finger 76 through the outlet fluid port 32.

The above-discussed coolant system provides for circulation of dielectric coolant fluid (e.g., saline, deionized water, etc.) through the entire length of the antenna assembly 12. The dielectric coolant fluid removes the heat generated by the assembly 12. In addition, the dielectric coolant fluid acts as a buffer for the assembly 12 and prevents near field dielectric properties of the assembly 12 from changing due to varying tissue dielectric properties. As microwave energy is applied during ablation, desiccation of the tissue around the radiating section 18 results in a drop in tissue complex permittivity by a considerable factor (e.g., about 10). The dielectric constant (er′) drop increases the wavelength of microwave energy in the tissue, which dramatically affects the impedance of un-buffered microwave antenna assemblies, thereby mismatching the antenna assemblies from the system impedance (e.g., impedance of the cable 16 and the generator 14). The increase in wavelength also results in a power dissipation zone that is much longer in length along the assembly 12 than in cross sectional diameter. The decrease in tissue conductivity (er″) also affects the real part of the impedance of the assembly 12. The fluid dielectric buffering according to the present disclosure also moderates the increase in wavelength of the delivered energy and drop in conductivity of the near field, thereby reducing the change in impedance of the assembly 12, allowing for more consistent antenna-to-system impedance match and spherical power dissipation zone despite tissue behavior.

The buffering of wavelength variation also allows for a more effective choking network. The choke must be placed at the low current point, or high impedance point, on the end of the proximal portion 42. With wavelength buffering in the choked wet tip, the half wavelength current pattern on the dipole radiating section is maintained, making the position of the high impedance point less variable and therefore allowing for a more effective choke network. Together, the cable cooling and the dielectric buffering allow for targeted and efficient energy delivery to the tissue to enable nearly spherical ablation zones and fast ablation times. Either saline or deionized water can be used with the assembly 12.

FIGS. 15-18 illustrate another embodiment of a microwave antenna assembly 112 of having a radiating section 118 and a feedline 120 that couples the assembly 112 to the cable 16. More specifically, the antenna assembly 112 is coupled to the cable 16 though a connection hub 122 that includes an outlet fluid port 130 and an inlet fluid port 132.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the radiating section 118 of the antenna assembly 112 having an unbalanced dipole antenna 140 in which the sheath 38 is replaced by a metallic conduit (e.g., coolant jacket 200) and a solid dielectric loading 190. The dipole antenna 140 is coupled to the feedline 120, which electrically connects antenna assembly 112 to the generator 14. As shown in FIG. 18, similar to the feedline 20, the feedline 120 includes an inner conductor 150 (e.g., wire) surrounded by an inner 152 insulator which is then surrounded by an outer conductor 156 (e.g., cylindrical conducting sheath).

The dipole antenna 140 includes a proximal portion 142 and a distal portion 144 interconnected by a dielectric spacer at a feed point 146. The distal portion 144 includes a conductive member 145. The distal portion 144 and the proximal portion 142 are of different, unequal lengths so that the dipole antenna 40 is unbalanced. The proximal portion 142 is formed from the inner conductor 150 and the inner insulator 152 which are extended outside the outer conductor 156. In one embodiment, in which the feedline 120 is formed from a coaxial cable, the outer conductor 156 and the inner insulator 152 may be sliced off to reveal the inner conductor 150 as shown in FIG. 18.

The distal portion 144 may be formed from any type of conductive material such as metals (e.g., copper, stainless steel, tin, and various alloys thereof. The portion 144 may have a solid structure and may be formed from solid wire (e.g., 10 AWG) or a cylindrical conductor filled with solder similar to the portion 44 of the assembly 12. The proximal portion 144 is thereafter coupled to the inner conductor 150.

With reference to FIGS. 16-18, the antenna assembly 112 also includes a choke 160. The choke 160 is disposed around the feedline 120 and includes an inner dielectric layer 162 and an outer conductive layer 164. In one embodiment, the choke 160 is a proximally positioned quarter-wave shorted choke that is shorted to the outer conductor 156 of the feedline 120 at the proximal end of the choke 160 by soldering or other means. The dielectric of dielectric layer 162 extends past the choke conductor layer 164 toward the distal end of the assembly 112.

The assembly 112 also includes the connection hub 122, as shown in FIG. 15. The connection hub 122 includes a cable connector 179 and the fluid ports 130 and 132. The connection hub 122 may include a three-branch luer type connector 172, with a middle finger 174 being used to house the cable connector 179 and the left and right fingers 176 and 178 to house the outlet and inlet fluid ports 130 and 132, respectively. The cable connector 179 is coupled to the inner conductor 152 and outer conductor 156 that are extended outside the outer conductor 156 at the proximal end of the feedline 120. The connection hub 122 also includes a base 181 disposed at a distal end of the middle finger 174. In one embodiment, the assembly 112 includes one or more inflow tubes 186 which are fed through the right finger 178.

The assembly 112 includes a solid dielectric loading 190 disposed over the dipole antenna 140 replacing the liquid dielectric material of assembly 112. The solid dielectric loading 190 extend from the point of termination of the choke conductor layer 164. More specifically, the assembly 112 includes a fluid seal 192 over the distal end of the choke conductor layer 164. In one embodiment, the loading 190 may be attached to the seal 192 via glue and other means.

The loading 190 may be cylinder-shaped having a central cavity 198 defined therein suitable for insertion over the antenna 140. The loading 190 may also have a tapered end 194 with a pointed tip 196, thereby obviating the need for the tip 48. The loading 190 may also be attached to the distal end of the antenna 140 (e.g., at the distal portion 144 thereof) within the cavity 198. The cavity 198 may have a substantially cylindrical shape suitable to fit over the antenna 140 depending on the cross-sectional shape thereof. In addition, the cavity 198 includes a proximal portion 197 and a distal portion 199 with the proximal portion 197 having a larger inner diameter than the distal portion 199 to accommodate the choke dielectric layer 162. The choke layer 162 may be extended to any length between the choke conductive layer 164 and the feed point 146. To accommodate the extended choke layer 162 the depth of the proximal portion 197 varies accordingly.

The loading 190 has an outer diameter being substantially equal to the thickness of the feedline 120 and the inner diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of the dipole antenna 140. Since the loading 190 is disposed on the dipole antenna 140 and coolant fluid is not configured to contact the loading in this instance, the antenna 140 is not coated with dielectric shrink wrap to seal the antenna's components.

In one embodiment, the dielectric material of the loading 90 may have a dielectric constant of from about 2.5 and 150 and may be made from a ceramic material, such as alumina ceramic or a plastic material, such as a polyamide plastic (e.g., VESPEL® available from DuPont of Wilmington, Del.). The loading 190 acts as a dielectric buffer between the radiating section 118 and the tissue so that as the electrical properties of the tissue change during ablation the antenna assembly 112 remains halfwave resonant and impedance-matched to the energy delivery system (e.g., the generator 14, the cable 16, etc.) throughout the ablation.

The antenna assembly 112 also includes a coolant jacket 200 disposed between the base 181 and the seal 192. The coolant jacket 200 maybe formed from stainless steel or other suitable medical grade metals. The coolant jacket 200 defines a proximal chamber 201 between the choke conductor layer 164 and the coolant jacket 200 into which a dielectric coolant fluid is supplied through the connection hub 122. More specifically, one or more inflow tube 186 similar to the tubes 86 a and 86 b may extend into the chamber 201 to circulate the dielectric coolant fluid through the coolant jacket 200. The seal 192 is disposed between the coolant jacket 200 and the choke conductor layer 164 at the distal ends thereof. The seal 192 may be formed from any type of dielectric (e.g., elastomer) and/or conductive material suitable for sealing the chamber 201 from the loading 190.

FIGS. 19-23 illustrate another embodiment of a microwave antenna assembly 212 adapted to operate between 500 MHz and 10 GHz. The microwave antenna assembly 212 includes a hybrid design, which combines a choked liquid cooling system with a solid dielectric loading. The microwave antenna assembly 212 includes a balanced or unbalanced dipole radiating section 218 having a dielectric-filled feed gap. The microwave antenna assembly 212 may also include a dielectric loading that encloses the dipole antenna 240 to provide for impedance matching and increased axial strength. The entire microwave antenna assembly 212 is also enclosed in a hybrid housing 270 including a conductive portion and a non-conductive portion. The housing provides a chamber 275 about the antenna assembly 212 allowing for coolant fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid may also act as a dielectric buffer allowing for better impedance matching.

The microwave antenna assembly 212 includes a radiating section 218 and a feedline 220 which couples the assembly 212 to the cable 16. More specifically, the antenna assembly 212 is coupled to the cable 16 through a connection hub 222 that includes an outlet fluid port 230, an inlet fluid port 23 and a cable connector 279. The connection hub 222 may include a three-branch luer type connector 272, with a middle branch 274 being used to house the cable connector 279 and the left and right fingers 276 and 278 to house the outlet and inlet fluid ports 230 and 232, respectively. The cable connector 279 is coupled to the feedline 120. In one embodiment, the assembly 212 includes one or more inflow tubes 286 which are fed through the right finger 278 and an outflow tube 288 fed through the left finger 276.

FIGS. 20-23 illustrate the radiating section 218 of the antenna assembly 212 having a dipole antenna 240. The dipole antenna 240 is coupled to the feedline 220, which electrically connects antenna assembly 212 to the generator 14. As shown in FIG. 22, the feedline 220 includes an inner conductor 250 (e.g., wire) surrounded by an inner insulator 252. The feedline 220 also includes an outer conductor 256 (e.g., cylindrical conducting sheath) disposed around the inner insulator 252 in a coaxial configuration. The outer conductor 256 is also enclosed within an outer insulator 258.

With particular reference to FIGS. 22 and 23, the dipole antenna 240 includes a proximal portion 242 and a distal portion 244. More specifically, the exposed outer conductor 256 acts as the second pole of the proximal portion 242 and the exposed portion of the inner conductor 250 acts as the second pole of the distal portion 244. The distal portion 244 also includes a conductive member 245, which may be a solid conductive shaft attached to the inner conductor 250. In another embodiment, the conductive member 245 may be a cylindrical conductor, which is filled with solder to convert the cylinder into a solid shaft, thereby attaching the conductive member 245 to the inner conductor 250.

The antenna assembly 212 includes a tip 248 coupled to the distal end of the conductive member 245. The tip 248 includes a tapered end that terminates, in one embodiment, at a pointed end (FIG. 21) to allow for insertion into tissue with minimal resistance at a distal end of the radiating section 218. In those cases where the radiating section 218 is inserted into a pre-existing opening, tip 248 may be rounded or flat (FIG. 20). The tip 248 may be formed from a variety of heat-resistant materials suitable for penetrating tissue, such as metals (e.g., stainless steel) and various thermoplastic materials, such as poletherimide, polyamide thermoplastic resins, an example of which is Ultem® available from General Electric Co. of Fairfield, Conn. The tip 248 may be machined from various stock rods to obtain a desired shape. The tip 248 may be attached to the conductive member 245 using various adhesives, e.g., epoxy. If the tip 248 is metal, the tip 248 may be soldered to the conductive member 245.

The dipole antenna 240 may either have a balanced or unbalanced configuration. In the balanced configuration, the proximal and distal portions 242 and 244 (e.g., first and second poles) are of equal radiating lengths. In the unbalanced configuration, the proximal and dipole portions 242 and 244 are of different, unequal lengths. The proximal and distal portions 242 and 244 are interconnected at a feed point 246, which may be filled by a dielectric spacer 247 or air (e.g., left unfilled). The dielectric space 247 may be made of various dielectric materials having a permittivity value from about 1 to about 100 to aid in the impedance matching. The dielectric spacer 247 may be designed to nest within flanges of the proximal and distal portions 242 and 244. In another embodiment, the dielectric spacer 247 may be of an over-molded design encapsulating the feed point 246 thereby acting as a coolant barrier and providing additional structural strength to the antenna assembly 212.

With reference to FIGS. 20, 21 and 23, the antenna assembly 212 also includes a choke 260. The choke 260 has a tubular structure formed from a conductive material and is disposed around the feedline 220. In one embodiment, the choke 260 is a proximally positioned quarter-wave choke that is shorted to the outer conductor 256 of the feedline 220 at the proximal end of the choke 260 by solder joint or other methods at connection 265 (FIG. 20).

The choke 260 is disposed over the outer insulator 258, which extends past the choke 260 toward the distal end of the assembly 212. As shown in FIG. 21, the outer insulator 258 partially covers the distal end of the outer conductor 258, such that a portion of the outer conductor 258 extending beyond the distal end of the choke 260 is covered by the outer insulator 258 while the remaining portion is exposed. The extended outer insulator 258 provides for blocking capacitance of the currents passing through the proximal portion 242, so that the current does not jump over the choke 260. In effect, the extended outer insulator 258 allows the choke 260 to act as a variable position choke without actually physically changing the position of the choke 260 on the antenna assembly 212.

The choke 260 also includes an entrance (e.g., open distal end of the choke 260) positioned at a high impedance point of the proximal portion 242 of the dipole antenna 240. This configuration confines the microwave currents to the radiating section 218 allowing for generation of roughly spherical ablation volume.

As shown in FIGS. 21-23, the antenna assembly 212 also includes a tubular dielectric loading 290 disposed around at least a portion of the dipole antenna 240, namely, around the exposed portion of the outer conductor 256 and the conductive member 245. In particular, the dielectric loading 290 covers the feed point 246 and extends to the tip 248. The dielectric loading 290 may have a tubular structure and may be formed from a variety of dielectric materials, such as ceramic (e.g., titanium oxide, alumina, etc.) or a plastic material (e.g., a polyamide plastic, VESPEL® available from DuPont of Wilmington, Del.). The dialectic loading 290 may be machined to form a cylinder suitable to fit around the antenna 240 or may be applied directly to the desirable portion of the antenna 240 to form a tubular coating via a variety of methods, such as spray coating, atomic layer deposition, vapor layer deposition and the like.

With reference to FIG. 20, the antenna assembly 212 includes a tubular housing 270 that encloses the dipole antenna 240 and the feedline 220. The tubular housing 270 may have a nonconductive-conductive hybrid design and may include a distal housing portion 272 and a proximal housing portion 274, The proximal housing portion 272 may be formed from either a conductive or nonconductive material to provide structural support to the antenna assembly 212. The nonconductive-conductive hybrid design includes the proximal housing portion 272 formed from a conductive material and the distal housing portion 274 formed from a non-conductive material. The conductive material of the proximal housing portion 272 may be stainless steel or other suitable medical grade metal. In one embodiment, the proximal housing portion 272 may be made from a stainless steel hypo-tube to provide for structural support for the proximal portion of the antenna assembly 212. The proximal housing portion 272 also impedes any microwave energy (e.g., radiated by the dipole antenna 240) from migrating up the antenna assembly 212.

The distal housing portion 274 may be formed from a dielectric material, such as polyimide, to facilitate the transmission of microwave energy therethrough to irradiate the tissue. In one embodiment, the distal housing portion 274 may be a rigid non-conductive cylinder, such as a hardened plastic tube, of similar diameter as the proximal housing portion 272. In another embodiment, the distal housing portion 274 may have a larger diameter, such that the proximal housing portion 272 fits within the distal housing portion 274. More specifically, the proximal and distal housing portions 272 and 274 may be nested radially, or concentrically, such that the distal housing portion 274 runs the entire length of the antenna assembly 212, enclosing the proximal housing portion 272.

In another embodiment, the proximal and distal housing portions 272 and 274 may be coupled at the truncation of the proximal housing portion 272 as shown in FIG. 20. This may be accomplished by compression fitting, thread mating, epoxying, welding, and other suitable methods. The tip 248 may also be coupled to the distal housing portion 274 by compression fitting, thread mating, epoxying, welding, and other methods. Compression fitting and/or welding various metallic components of the antenna assembly 212 allows for increased temperature handling capability and facilitates manufacturability of the antenna assembly 212.

The housing 270 defines a chamber 275 around the feedline 220 and the radiating section 218. The chamber 275 is adapted for circuiting a coolant fluid therethrough along the entire length of the antenna assembly 212. The coolant fluid may be a dielectric such as water or saline that is supplied though the hub 222. In one embodiment, the coolant fluid has a relatively high dielectric constant similar to tissue in which the antenna assembly 212 is being used, such that the low conductivity of the fluid allows it to act as a dielectric buffer around the radiating section 220. The buffering allows for impedance matching between the antenna assembly 212 and the tissue, even as the electrical properties of the tissue change as the tissue is being ablated. In addition, the coolant fluid cools the antenna assembly 212, including the feedline 220, enabling greater energy delivery.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, one or more inflow tubes 286 (similar to the tubes 86 a and 86 b) may extend into the chamber 275 to circulate the coolant fluid along the feedline 220, the radiating section 218 and the choke 260. The remaining space within the chamber 275 may act as the return path for the fluid, which is then withdrawn through the outflow tube 288.

In another embodiment, the fluid may be passed through the choke 260. With reference to FIGS. 21-23, the choke 260 includes a tubular structure having an inner cylindrical casing 261 and an outer cylindrical casing 263 defining a cavity 265 therebetween. The fluid is supplied through the cavity 265 into the chamber 275.

As shown in FIG. 21, the antenna assembly 212 includes a dielectric buffering medium 300 which is provided by the outer insulator 258, the dielectric spacer 247, dielectric loading 290 and the coolant fluid supplied through the chamber 275. The medium 300 acts as a dielectric buffer between the radiating section 218 and the tissue such that as the electrical properties of the tissue change during ablation the antenna assembly 212 remains resonant and impedance-matched to the energy delivery system (e.g., the generator 14, the cable 16, etc.) throughout the ablation. In one embodiment, the dielectric permittivity values of the components of the medium 300 are as follows: outer insulator 258 may range from about 1 to about 30, the dielectric spacer 247 may range from about 2 to about 100, the dielectric loading 290 may range from about 2 to about 150, and the coolant fluid may range from about 30 to about 100.

In another embodiment, the dielectric permittivity values of the constituent materials of the medium 300 are selected to provide for a gradual increase in the dielectric permittivity as the radial distance from the feed point 246 increases. In one embodiment, the outer insulator 258 has a lower dielectric permittivity than the dielectric spacer 247, which, in turn, has a lower dielectric permittivity than the dielectric loading 290. The coolant fluid has the highest dielectric permittivity. More specifically, the dielectric material loaded in the feed point 246, which may be filled by a dielectric spacer 247 or air, has a dielectric permittivity value higher than that of the outer insulator 258 but lower than that of the dielectric loading 290. The gradual increase in the dielectric constant of the medium 300 is accomplished by providing material of varying dielectric properties. This arrangement allows for better impedance matching of the antenna assembly 212 to the tissue during ablation.

The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present disclosure. Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A microwave antenna assembly, comprising: a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; a radiating section coupled to the feedline, the radiating section including: a dipole antenna including a proximal portion and a distal portion and a gap defining a feed point therebetween, wherein the feed point includes a dielectric material; and a tubular dielectric loading disposed about at least a portion of the dipole antenna including the dielectric material of the feed point, wherein a dielectric permittivity of the tubular dielectric loading is higher than a dielectric permittivity of the dielectric material of the feed point; and a choke disposed around at least a portion of the feedline, the choke including an inner dielectric layer and an outer conductive layer, wherein a distal end of the inner dielectric layer is disposed between a distal end of the outer conductive layer and the gap.
 2. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular dielectric loading is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide and alumina.
 3. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 2, wherein the material of the tubular dielectric loading is deposited onto the radiating section via a method selected from the group consisting of spray coating, atomic layer deposition and vapor layer deposition.
 4. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric permittivity of the dielectric material of the feed point is higher than a dielectric permittivity of the outer insulator.
 5. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 4, further comprising: a housing that defines a chamber therein, the chamber being dimensioned to house the feedline and the radiating section and configured to circulate a dielectric coolant fluid therethrough.
 6. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 5, wherein a dielectric permittivity of the dielectric coolant fluid is higher than the dielectric permittivity of the dielectric material of the feed point.
 7. A microwave antenna assembly, comprising: a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween; a radiating section coupled to the feedline, the radiating section including: a dipole antenna including a proximal portion and a distal portion and a gap defining a feed point therebetween, wherein the feed point includes a dielectric spacer; and a dielectric medium including a plurality of constituent dielectric materials of varied dielectric permittivity values disposed about at least a portion of the dipole antenna, the dielectric medium including the dielectric spacer of the feed point; and a choke disposed around at least a portion of the feedline, the choke including an inner dielectric layer and an outer conductive layer, wherein a distal end of the inner dielectric layer is disposed between a distal end of the outer conductive layer and the gap.
 8. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 7, further comprising: a housing that defines a chamber therein, the chamber being dimensioned to house the feedline and the radiating section and configured to circulate a dielectric coolant fluid therethrough.
 9. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 8, wherein the dielectric medium further includes: an outer insulator disposed about a portion of the outer conductor; a tubular dielectric loading disposed about at least a portion of the dipole antenna, the tubular dielectric loading extending from the outer insulator and enclosing the dielectric spacer; and a dielectric coolant fluid circulatable through the chamber.
 10. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 9, wherein the tubular dielectric loading is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide and alumina.
 11. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 10, wherein the material of the tubular dielectric loading is deposited onto the radiating section via a method selected from the group consisting of spray coating, atomic layer deposition and vapor layer deposition.
 12. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 9, wherein a dielectric permittivity of each of the tubular dielectric loading and of the dielectric coolant fluid is higher than a dielectric permittivity of the dielectric spacer.
 13. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 12, wherein the dielectric permittivity of the dielectric spacer is higher than a dielectric permittivity of the outer insulator.
 14. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the dipole antenna has a generally cylindrical shape.
 15. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the dipole antenna includes a distal portion of the outer conductor, and wherein the distal portion of the dipole antenna includes a conductive member, the outer conductor and the conductive member spaced apart by the gap defining the feed point.
 16. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 15, wherein the proximal portion of the dipole antenna further includes a distal portion of the inner insulator, the inner insulator and the conductive member spaced apart by the gap defining the feed point.
 17. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the dipole antenna is an unbalanced dipole antenna having proximal and distal portions of different lengths.
 18. The microwave antenna assembly according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric permittivity values of the constituent dielectric materials of the dielectric medium are selected to provide for a gradual increase in dielectric permittivity as the radial distance from the feed point increases. 